Flat-water kitesurfing in the Caribbean
The short answer
Playa Buen Hombre, on the north-west coast of the Dominican Republic, is a big, sheltered bay of the Caribbean Sea with knee-deep water over a grass bottom, which makes it one of the safest and easiest places in the Caribbean to learn kitesurfing. It is called a lagoon because it is a bay. We have taught here since 2013 and were the first IKO kite school in Monte Cristi province.
What the water is like
Why flat water matters
On flat water the board stays under you, falls are soft and recovery is easy, so you spend your lesson riding instead of fighting chop. That is why beginners and nervous learners progress faster here, and why we send riders who want waves to Cabarete once they ride on their own.
What the water is like
Depth: about knee deep where students ride. At low tide it is shallower and you walk out a little further.
Bottom: grass.
Size: big. There is plenty of room to launch, land and ride without crowds, in a remote fishing village.
Temperature: about 26 degrees Celsius at the coolest, and a few degrees warmer in the shallows at low tide. No wetsuit needed; a lycra is good.
Wind
Buen Hombre averages about 15 knots, against about 11 in Cabarete (Windfinder), with roughly twice as many days above 12 knots. The windiest periods are November to April and mid-May to September. You can check the conditions before you travel on our live wind and camera page.
Safety is part of every lesson
Every lesson is strictly one to one. Students wear a helmet with a radio, so the instructor can talk to them on the water, and an impact vest. A rescue boat is on hand, and first aid and self-rescue training are included. Helmet and vest are included in every lesson.
Who it suits
Complete beginners, first-time kiters, children from age 6, nervous learners, and riders who care more about progression than nightlife. Swimming ability is not that important here, because the water is shallow and every lesson is private. Once you ride upwind, Cabarete offers waves, freestyle and freeride on the ocean, and we run both locations. See the full guide: where to kitesurf in the Dominican Republic.
How to get there
The closest big airports are Puerto Plata (POP, about 3 hours), Santiago (STI, about 2.5 hours) and Punta Cana (PUJ, about 6.5 hours). Private transfers run 24/7. See the transport page for times and prices.
Questions people ask
Is Buen Hombre safe for beginners?
Yes. The water is about knee deep, the bottom is grass and the bay is big and sheltered. Every lesson is strictly one to one, students wear helmets with radios and an impact vest, a rescue boat is on hand, and first aid and self-rescue training are included.
How deep is the water?
About knee deep where students ride. At low tide the water is even shallower and you simply walk out a little further.
What is the water temperature?
Warm all year, about 26 degrees Celsius at the coolest and a few degrees warmer in the shallows at low tide. No wetsuit is needed, and a lycra is plenty.
Where else in the Caribbean can you kitesurf on flat water?
Turks and Caicos is a well-known flat-water kitesurfing destination, and outside the Caribbean the Red Sea coast of Egypt compares. Buen Hombre offers the same kind of shallow, forgiving water in a remote fishing village, with about 15 knots of average wind.
Ready to book?
Start with beginner kitesurfing lessons, see the kite stay packages, or book your trip. Questions first? Read the FAQ or the Learn to Kitesurf guide.